Monday, January 4, 2016

God thank You for this season of celebrating Jesus’ birth! We remember MLA Robin Austin today and pray Your peace will be near him this season and that he may enjoy rest and relaxation. Bless his family also in 2016 with safety and good health. In Your name we pray, Amen.

Robin Austin was re-elected as the MLA for Skeena in May 2013. He was first elected to the Legislature in May 2005, and again in 2009.

Robin serves as Opposition Critic for Natural Gas Development.

Robin was born in Britain and spent his early years living in Ghana, West Africa, before returning to the United Kingdom where he completed his schooling.

After graduation, Robin pursued a Bachelor of Arts degree from Strathclyde University in Scotland, where he majored in hotel management. It was while working in fine hotels abroad that he met his wife, Colleen, a Canadian.

Robin spent several years in Toronto before moving to the West Coast, where Colleen has her roots. After working at UBC, then moving to Victoria where he had a hand in opening Camilles, a popular restaurant in Bastion Square, the family decided to settle in Terrace.

In Terrace, Robin pursued his social work degree and was employed as a community schools coordinator for a non-profit society, as well as serving as a foster parent.

During his first term, Robin was the Opposition Critic for Fisheries and the Chair of the Special Parliamentary Committee on Sustainable Aquaculture. As chair of the committee, he delivered a report that made 55 wide-ranging recommendations to improve aquaculture in the province, including a recommendation to move the salmon farming industry to ocean-based closed-containment within five years, in the interests of protecting wild salmon stocks.